Barbell weight



Aug. 26, 1969 F. H. JAMES, JR 3,463,485

BARBELL WEIGHT Original Filed Sept. 10, 1963 INVENTOR Worreal Wgameagr.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,463,486 BARBELL WEIGHT Forrest H. James, Jr., Opelika, Ala., assignor to Diversified Products Corporation, Opelika, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Continuation of application Ser. No. 307,964, Sept. 10, 1963. This application July 31, 1967, Ser. No. 657,429 Int. 'Cl. A63b 13/00 U.S. Cl. 27284 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE A hollow housing formed of resilient'shock resistant plastic is used as a barbell weight. It is generally disc shaped and has a cylindrical transverse sleeve with a pair of opposed confronting side walls extending generally radially from the sleeve and joined by a rim. The side walls have a generally uniform thickness and have a series of complementary lands and grooves radially extending along the sidewalls from the sleeve toward the rim, but terminating intermediate the sleeve and rim in the central portion of the side walls. A cementitious material is inserted into the housing through a hole in the rim which is closed by a plug.

This invention is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 307,964 filed Sept. 10, 1963 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a barbell and is more particularly concernedwith a barbell and a weight for use in a barbell set or a dumbell set, the'weight being of the type which may be slid onto the end portion of a bar to increase the amount of weight carried by the bar.

' In the past, concrete filled barbells have been suggested. To the best of my knowledge, these concrete filled barbells have not been successful because the concrete for filling the weight has been of low specific gravity, the concrete being diflicult to pack uniformly into a small space so as to produce a uniform weight. Furthermore, the material forming the casing of the weights have not been particularly suitable in that the casing tends to damage material when the weight is dropped and the weight is not easily handled in inserting the weight on a bar and when removing the weight. These prior art composite weights also had no means for interlocking, one weight to another. 7

- Briefly, the present invention which overcomes the disadvantages described above, includes a polyethylene disc shaped casing, the interior of which is hollow. A hole along the rim of the casing is utilized for filling, the hole 1 being closed by a plug which is of a particular configuration so that it may be held in place by the material filling rotation of the adjacentweight.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Weight forbarbell which is of high specific gravity and yet includes a resilient,shock resistant outer surface which retards damage to objects when the weight is dropped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide "a barbell and weight therefor which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure, and eflicient in operation.

-Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite weight which may be interlocked with juxtaice posed weights to prevent relative rotation of the weights with respect to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a weight for barbell, the weight being relatively noiseless when coming in contact with other weights on the barbell and being easily lifted and inserted or removed from the bar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a weight which will not rust or readily deteriorate and may be readily and easily cleaned.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a Weight constructed in accordance with the present invention, a portion of the weight being broken away to illustrate the interior and plug of the weight.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view, partially broken away, taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a barbell constructed in accordance with the present invention and having the weight illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 inserted thereon, together with another like weight, the weights being interlocked and held in place by collars.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects, the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 10 denotes generally the hollow casing or housing of the weight of the present invention. Housing 10 is integrally formed from resilient shock resistant plastic, preferably polyethylene which is blow-molded to provide a pair of spaced, opposed, side walls 11 and 12, each of which is circular in shape and provided with a central hole. The holes in side walls 11 and 12 are aligned with each other and secured to the ends of a hollow, cylindrical, sleeve 13, one end of which is joined to the inner peripheral portion of side wall 11 and the other end of which is joined to the inner peripheral portion of side wall 12. Thus the sleeve 13 spaces the central portions of side walls 11 and 12 apart.

It will be observed that side Walls 11 and 12 are gen erally perpendicular to the axis of sleeve 13 and taper outwardly, terminating in peripheral outer edges 14 and 15 which are joined by a continuous, circumferentially extending, rim 16 defined by the generation of an are about the axis of the weight i.e., the axis of sleeve 13. In cross section, as seen in FIG. 2, rim 16, along its outer surface is convex, its edges merging with the outer peripheral edges 14 and 15, respectively. The inner surface of rim 16 is, of course, concaved since the thickness of walls 11 and 12 and rim 16 are uniform.

A portion of rim 16 is provided with a radial hole, within which is received a plug 17. The hole is circular, when viewed along the axis of the hole, and its transverse extremities extend to positions adjacent the outer peripheral edges 14 and 15.

The plug 17 is formed of polyethylene and is hollow, having an outer surface 18 which conforms to the surface configuration of the outer surface of rim 16 so as to be flush therewith when the plug 17 is inserted into the hole. The body 19 of the plug 17 is cylindrical in shape, being of approximately the same outside diameter as the inside diameter of the hole receiving the plug 17.

The shank 20 of the plug 17 is frustoconical in shape, tapering inwardly toward the axis of the weight to terminate in a cone shaped tip 21, the base of which is attached to the end of the shank 20 and is of larger diameter than 3 the end of the shank to provide a radial shoulder 22 which, as will be described more fully hereinafter, prevents the plug 17 from being inadvertently removed from the casing 10.

To prevent relative rotation of one weight with respect to a juxtaposed, coaxially disposed, similar weight, such as when the weights are disposed side-by-side on a bar 30, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the hub portion of each side wall 11 or 12 is provided with an interlock mechanism, so arranged that the interlock mechanism of one side wall will interengage with the interlock mechanism of the side wall of another weight.

In the present embodiment, the interlock mechanism of side wall 11 includes four radially extending, shoulders 31, 32, 33 and 34. Shoulders 31, 32, 33 and 34 are equally spaced from each other by approximately 90' circumferentially with respect to sleeve 13 and extend from the inner peripheral edge of side wall 11 to terminate at an intermediate portion of side wall 11. All radial shoulders 31, 32, 33 and 34 are disposed in the same radial plane and are partially recessed in the hub of side wall 11 while protruding slightly beyond the outer surface of wall 11. The inner portions of the ends of adjacent pairs of shoulders, namely the inner end portion of shoulders 31 and 32 are joined by a curvilinear recessed flange and the inner end portions of shoulders 33 and 34 are joined by a curvilinear recessed flange 36 opposed to and complementary with flange 35. The outer end portions of shoulders 31 and 34 are joined by outwardly protruding curvilinear flange 37 and the outer end portions of shoulders 32 and 33 are joined by a curvilinear flange 38 opposed to and complementary with flange 37.

Flanges 35, 38, 36 and 37 define, as viewed in FIG. 1, a circle concentric with sleeve 13, the sleeve 13 being indented opposite flanges 35 and 36. A pie shaped recessed, web 39 joins the inner edges of shoulders 31, 32, flange 35 and the outer edge portion of sleeve 13. A similar pie shaped, recessed, web 40 joins the inner edges of shoulders 33, 34 flange 36 and the outer edge portion of sleeve 13.

In like manner outwardly offset, pie shaped, web 41 joins the outer edges of shoulders 31, 34 and flange 37 and an edge portion of sleeve 13 while outwardly ofiset, pie shaped, web 42 joins the outer edges of shoulders 32, 33 and flange 38 and an edge portion of sleeve 13.

It is now seen that the diametrically opposed webs 39 and 40, with their associated flanges and shoulders, define recesses or valleys between which, circumferentially, are lands defined by webs 41 and 42 and their associated flanges and shoulders.

In like manner, the hub of side wall 12 is provided with alternate circumferentially disposed valleys (not shown) and lands and 51, rotated 90 with respect to the valleys and lands of the side wall 11.

As seen in FIG. 3 the lands 50 and 51 of sidewall 12 of one weight are adapted to be received in the valleys defined by webs 39 and 40 of an adjacent similar weight, the shoulders, such as shoulders 31 and 34, tapering axially and the shoulders 32 and 33 tapering axially so as to mate releasably with similar shoulders, the mating engagement preventing relative rotation of one weight with respect to an adjacent weight when clamped in abutting relationship on bar 30 by collars, such as collars 53 and 54 on opposite sides of the weights, collar 53 being held in place by a set screw 55 and collar 54 being held in place by a set screw 56.

The bar 30, as seen in FIG. 3, is a hollow, tubular, cylindrical, member, closed at both ends by resilient ferrels such as ferrel 57, the ferrel 57 having a reduced diameter body 58 which is received within the end portion of bar 30 and a head 59 which abuts the end of the bar 30.

Casing 10 is filled with aggregate material 60 which includes, preferably, a mixture of 400 pounds of aggregate to 94 pounds of Portland cement and 4 gallons of water.

It will be understood that the ratio by weight aggregate to cement may vary between 3:1 to 5:1 parts aggregate to parts cement and that from 2 to 6 gallons of water may be used per sack (94#) of cement.

The aggregate is a dense, fine, granular, material for example, mill scale (thejscale, particles from the, .hot rolling of steel and iron) or Wyomingmagnetite or Quebec ilmenite or a mixture of the same.,The aggregate should have a size distribution such that it may; be tightly compacted so as to provide an aggregate material 60 having a specific gravity of from approximately 3 to approximately 7. I l r V The aggregrate should be sufliciently small that 100% passes through a /2 mesh. The following Table I defines the size distribution for typical aggregates.

TABLE I Percentage passed through Mesh size Magnetite Ihnenite Table II defines the fineness modulus and specific gravity of the typical aggregates.

TABLE II Magnetite Ilmen'ite Fineness modulus Minimum specific gravity"...

and minimum sizes of the various weights.

TABLE III 7 Size Weight- Width Outside Diameter 2 pounds inch-1% inches 4 inches-6 inches 5 pounds inch-1% inches 6 inches8 inches. 10 pounds 1 inch-1% inches 8 inches-11 inches. 25 pounds 1% inches-2% inches. 11% inches-14% inches.

When producing the weight of the present invention, the aggregate material 60, in a fluid condition, is premixed and then rammed or vibrated through the hole in rim 16 so as to become compacted into the hollow portion within the casing 10. When the casing 10 is filled, the aggregate material 60 is to Within a short distance of the hole in rim 16. Next'the plug 17 is inserted in the hole and driven flush with the rim 16 by using a rubber mallet. Hence, some of the aggregate material 60 seeps around the shoulder 22 and when aggregate material 60 becomes solidified, prevents the plug'17 from being removed.

In use, the weight shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is inserted, with or without similar weights, onto the bar 30,"tlie bar 30 projecting through sleeve 13 and receiving theweight or weights. Collars 53 and 54 clamp the weights inplace, it being understood that the collar 53 is installed and locked in place on bar 30, before the weights areinstalled, and collar 54 is installed and locked in place aftertlie weights are installed. If more than one weight is employed between the collars 53 and 54, one weight should be rotated on bar 30 with respect to the other until the lands,

such as lands 50 and 51 on one weight are aligned and are mated with the recesses of an adjacent side wallof an adjacent weight. t

The aggregate material 60, when dry is very hard and dense; however, casing 10 forms a resilient, shock resistant coating surrounding the aggregate material 60, thereby tending along said side walls from said sleeve toward protecting furniture, the floor and other objects which may said peripheral edges, said lands and grooves terbe struck with the weight. Ininatingin the central portion of the side walls inter- It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many mediate said sleeve and said peripheral edges, the variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for the 5 lands and grooves of one of said side walls being offpurpose of illustrating the present invention without deset with respect to the lands and grooves of the other parting from the scope thereof as defined by the appended of said side walls so that cross sectional thickness of claims. said housing is substantially uniform throughout its I claim: central portion; and 1. A barbell and dumbell weight comprising: (d) a substantially rigid cementitious material filling (a) a hollow housing formed of resilient shock resistant said housing.

plastic, said housing including a cylindrical transverse 4. The structure defined in claim 3 including Weighting sleeve, a pair of opposed, confronting side walls exmetallic particles disposed in said cementitious material. tending generally radially from said sleeve, said side 5. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein said weightwalls being circular and concentric with respect to the ing metallic particles are mill scale. axis of said sleeve, and said side walls terminating in 6. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said rim is outer peripheral edges; provided with a hole and including a plug projecting (b) arimjoining the peripheral edges of said side walls; through said hole, the inner portion of said plug being (c) side side Walls having generally uniform thickness imbedded in and maimed in Place by Said cfimentitious and having a series of lands and grooves radially exmateral. tending along said side walls from said sleeve toward '7. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said rim said peripheral edges, said lands and grooves termiiS convex in cross section and the outer end Of said plug nating in the entral portion f th id ll interis convex for conforming to the curvature of said rim. mediate said sleeve and said peripheral edges, the 3. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said side lands and grooves of one of said side walls being walls are provided with radially extending shoulders becomplementary with the lands and grooves of the tween said lands and grooves, said lands an grooves terother of said side walls whereby a plurality of such minating in Concentric S u ders.

similar weights may be received on a bar in juxtaposition with the lands and grooves of one of the weights References C ted intermeshing with the lands and grooves of an adja- UNIT D STATES PATENTS cent weight; and

D. 194,042 11/1962 Guthormsen 272-84 (d) a substantially llgld cementltrous material filllng 1,935,308 11/1933 Baltzley.

said housing. 2. The structure defined in claim 1 including weighting g metallic particles disposed in said cementitious material. 3 3226117 12/1965 Yg 3. A barbell and dumbell weight comprising: a (a) a hollow housing formed of resilient shock resistant FOREIGN PATENTS plastic, said housing including a cylindrical transverse 806,563 9/1936 Fmnce sleeve, a pair of opposed, confronting side walls ex- 121,370 7/1927 Switzerland tending generally radially from said sleeve, said side 40 wall being circular and concentric with respect to the OTHER REFERENCES axis of said sleeve, and said side walls terminating in Sears, Roebuck a d Co, Catalogue, F ll d Wi t outer peripheral edges; 1962, p. 798 J. C. Higgins Weightlifting Sets. (b) an arcuate rim joining the peripheral edges of said side walls; ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner (c) said side Walls having generally uniform thickness g and having a series of lands and grooves radially ex- KRAMER Asslstant Exammer 

